I want to believe

I really do. I want to believe that the general difficulties of all of the AL West teams has kept the Mariners meaningfully close to first. I want to believe that last night's 14-7 destruction of the world champs is the spark that will kick off a solid streak of good baseball by our M's.

I want to believe.

If only we hadn't faced a whole series of crap minor league pitchers last night. If only the comeback hadn't followed Joel's own meltdown, requiring the bullpen to come in and pitch an outstanding game. (Yeah! Bullpen!) If only that win weren't only number 14 of 35 tries.

I want to believe.

We have one more week in the death march to interleague play, and to get back anywhere near .500 by that point, Seattle now has to reel off five consecutive wins against Boston and New York. Ryan Franklin tonight.

I want to believe.

I'm putting on my fitted trident M's cap tonight to help exorcise the ghosts of Mariners past. I see news of the misfortune of division rivals and look for a glimmer of hope. Pitchy Rich Harden, injured? Claw ahead of Oakland?? Check. Angels haunted by identity crisis that prevents them from running away from the pack?? Check. Texas sucks?? Check.

I want to believe.

At least we're not in the old 1977-1993 era of the seven-team AL West. Then the White Sox would be running away from us, and instead of being 5 1/2 games back of the leader and in last place, we'd be 12 1/2 games out, and ahead of only the Tony Penaless Royals.

I'm grasping at straws here.